IN singapore

We set off on Jan 1st with some anxiety and a great fanfare from the Fremantle crowd. Appart from some illegal jostling at the start line off we went. It seems ages ago that we were counting the masts to ensure we were up with the crowd but soon the gamble of wind chasing left us following the pack. Nevertheless we had a good time. There are two watches and on balance we have a good crew whio are all different. The round the worlders have all wortked out a way of living together and know each other very well by now. I was on a watch with Angie another legger.The first few days wree SO tough gtrying to cope with the watch system of 4 hgours on and then off. I dread to think how many times I nodded whilst on at night. Then, everything settles down and a rhythm takes over. It is sometimes difficult to remember if your getting up for breakfast, supper or the afternoon. The sailing was failry straight forward and the time in Singapore interesting. My time slot is abouto expire so I'll catch up when I can.

Nearly off

It is 6.15am local time and I am awake bright and breezy. Like , I'm sure, all the leggers before me I am missing my family and struggling to deal with what will be the longest separation I have ever had from them. They are always in my mind just behind the next job that needs to be done. Coupled with this is a rag bag of emotion. Excitement at the prospect of crossing an ocean in what should be fairly calm weather but could be anything especially as there are cyclones off North Australia at the moment; fear, exacerbated by the Man Over Board on the last leg which brings home constantly the reality of the actual risk rather it being a jolly fine, fictional Boys Own adventure. The concept of endurance is one that I haven't fully deealt with in the past. There has always been the option of getting off, getting out or switching off. Once we go tomorrow it's "there till the end". As a shrink there is then the fascination with people dynamics, but of which I am now a part, not the doctor. The team is a mix of races, ages, sexes and ability as well of personality type and overall everyone who has already sailed seems to have found a way to adapt to those initial frictions.
We have not yet been allocated to our watches but it will amount to 6 sailing and one mother watch from each watch which should be perfect. The training day had 14 people all clamouring for a job and those with the most powerful elbows got the first look in so it will be glorious to have the tranquility of space.
Our Lady Qing is looking immaculate after her clean yesterday and all obvious repairs made. There will certainly be things which will arise on the trip and need to be tackled but for now, all is good.
I'm so looking forward now to letting that last line slip and be off. There will thousands of people waving from the harbour wall, and loads have been to look around, but behind the smiles and waves will be that immense sense of awe and longing. A wish to touch base with home again but to make the most of enjoying the sea, its colours and creatures, the stars in all their light pollution free glory and dried milk in my coffee!
Kay

Getting ready for the off

Hi all,
Yesterday we went for a remember sail for all the New leggers. We went into Freo harbour and practiced all the drills, tacking, gybing Man over baord etc. It was good to be on the water but I have to confess it was also nice to know we would be back for a beer! It was interesting to speculate how it would have been if we were to continue for another 19 days without stopping! I am a little, probably realistically apprehensive about the endurancce component to it all. The race so far has not had traditional weather, eg calm in the Southern ocean so I hope the hurricanes currently off the North of Australia twizzle off somewhere else! Our crew is in good spirits and we met this morning to do the final repairs and clean of the boat. We will find out which watch we are in tomorrow, pack our bags and have an early night before slipping at 10.00am on New years day. We race down the harbour before hitting the open sea. Apparently it is very narrow and with 10 biats jickeying for pole position it promises to be good fun!
I'm off to the hotel pool now for an hour or two. The temperature has cooled to 29degrees and still not a cloud.
Best wishes for a happy new year. Our race starts at about 1.00am your time so I will be a little busy! Will attempt to blog from boat but not sure if it will work.
Love to all
Kay

Here I am in Oz

Hi Guys. Its a cool 33degrees today after 43 on Boxing day. The name of the game is factor 30 sunblock and lhen life is a breeze. Cofee on the cappuchino mile in Freo, Beaches, pools, beers, deserts, kangeroos, meeting friends of friends and their delightful families. Will go for a revision sail on the 29th which I can't wait for. I'm so looking forward to getting onto the water. Mat left for Sydney this morning so I shall miss him. He had a couple of pals his age and a few older couples so I joined them all from the Liverpool boat. I went over to Qingdao this morning to drop off some stuff and met a couple of leggers. All the round the worlders seem to have gone off for a well earned rest to exotic...more exotic places and will be back on the 29th.
Am racing against my 15minute computer slot. Will take half an hour next time and write more peotically about azure or cobalt skies and all that. Thinking of you all,
Kay

3 days to go

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas.
Hopefully this page will soon be bursting with luscious tidbits of observations and experiences as the "Clipper Experience" begins for me. If a journey from Australia to China across the ocean isn't wonderful I will need to reprogram my attitude. Let's see how it pans out.
Kay